2014 World Cup - Group F Preview

The 2014 World Cup will be a vital one in the career of Lionel Andres Messi. The Barcelona forward has already long since assured that he will achieve legendary status in the game, but the Brazil World Cup represents his best chance yet to get his hands of the world’s biggest international trophy.

I must say that I really don`t understand the cliche about Messi and needing to win the World Cup in order to be considered on a par with Pele and Maradona. The likelihood is that Messi will never win the World Cup. I personally think it is extremely unreasonable to say that you can`t be considered one of the very best of all-time without winning the World Cup. No-one ever says “Maradona didn`t win the European Cup, so he didn`t do it on the biggest stage in club football.” No-one ever criticises Pele for playing for Santos for his whole career. The odds are against any player winning the World Cup because there are so many factors over which you have no control.

That said, Messi would obviously love to win the World Cup with Argentina, and the current squad is possibly capable of doing this, although it can be considered one that is somewhat lop-sided. There are some big names in midfield and attack, though, although the challenge for the Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella will be fitting all of his star players into a viable system and formation. Javier Mascherano, Angel di Maria, Fernando Gago, Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuain will all probably feature alongside Messi, but finding a balanced line-up will be far from easy. Many believe that going for broke and non-stop attack will be the Argentinian side’s best hope of success, but rarely has a team been successful at World Cup level without a balance between defence and attack.

In the past, Argentina has always been able to field top-class, and usually very strong and aggressive, defenders, but they are clearly short in this department at the moment. Nonetheless, they should progress through Group F with considerable comfort.

Elsewhere in Group F, the battle for the other qualifying spot would seem to be a straight battle between Nigeria and Bosnia and Herzegovina surely Iran are too weak to merit much consideration. Nigeria are traditionally the strongest nation in Africa, but their crown has slipped a little in recent years, and the current squad doesn’t look anything like as formidable as some they’ve sent to major tournaments in previous years. Always an athletic side, Nigeria will hope that the likes of John Obi Mikel can have big tournaments, and they will need their star players to be at their best when they face Bosnia.

Bosnia and Herzegovina may be a relative minnow, but they can boast two world-class players. Manchester City’s Edin Džeko will lead the line for Bosnia, while the immensely gifted Miralem Pjanić will feed him from midfield. Elsewhere, their team isn’t as strong as the gold dust that these two will provide, but they look stronger than Nigeria and strong enough to make the last sixteen.

Selections: Argentina and Bosina and Herzegovina to qualify for the last sixteen

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20/05/2014     © Frixo 2026